Method of and apparatus for blocking hats



OC- 3, 1933- R. G. sEGscHNl-:IDER l,929,393

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKING HATS Filed July 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @OZ Tum' www, @j

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Ct- 3, 1933- .R. G. sEGscHNElDER 1,929,393

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BLOCKING HATS Filed July 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Agi ORNEY` Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED vsT-.Li-res 1,9;z9,393Y i METHOD OF AND A-PPARATUSVFOR l BLOCKING HATS l Y Rudolph G. segschnei'aer, Yonkers, N. Y. `Application July 24, 1930. Serial No. 470,410

7 Claims.

,"determined by the desired final crown size ofthe nished hat. The hat brim is then gripped'about `lV its periphery by suitablev clamping members `and the hat material softened for the subsequentfoperations by passing steam into contact therewith. 'The clamping members are then moved outward- "lyto stretch the brim in a radial direction. The

Zomaterial of thev hat being in a softened'condition and no resistance other than that of the material itself being offered tothe brim stretching ifc'rcesgthe hat is quickly stretchedv tothe desired 'brim'outer edge dimension. vWith the brim rmly Y 2.5held in this position, a crown blocking operation is then carried out by inserting a crownblock, corresponding in size with the banding ringV used 'andin contour to the desired nal crown contour, `through the banding ring and forcing this block downwardly into lthe crown. This, operation causes an annular portion of the crown previously outside the banding ring to be pulled over the edge of the ring, and causes further stretching of the'material in the hat brim. The crown block must be forced into the crown a greater distance than the nnished size of the hat requires to compensate for the elasticity of the material stretched. The brim is then released and the hat with the crown block in position is removed from the machine for the subsequent finishing operations. l

I have discovered certain disadvantageous features of fthe above described blocking method which impair the quality of the hatsoperated on, increase the time -and labor expended in the process, Vand cause a relatively rapid replacement of certain parts of the machine used.` For example, in the above method, the lack of substantial resistance to the initial stretching ofthe vbrim requires that the Ymajor portion of the brim stretching actually-be'eiected during the crown blocking operation in which the material is again pulled over the upper edge Iof the vband ring. By this action, certain annular portions of the hat adjacent to the line lof juncture of thebrim and crown are subject tosubtsantial strain and wear. 1 by their movement -backand forth overthe banding ring upper edge. In `my improved-method hereinafter described, the stretching Yof the Abrim issubstantially completed bythe outward moveyment of the clampingmembersby providingar substantial resistance to any ymovement ofthe crown material over the banding ringledge, thereby conningthe stretching in the brix'nlst'retching operation to the brim material,miniinizing 'the area of the materialcontacting with the'brim edge, and substantially lessening the amountfof wear due to such contact. K in the former method, the banding ring'used is of iiXed dimensions corresponding to the-de 70 sired crown size. VWith such aring in position, its relatively sharp upper edge will exert a'sub- 1 stantialV wearing contact on any material -drawn thereover, particularly since the pull vis exerted perpendicularly to the direction of movementl o f the crown material. -Increasing the-resistance to the material f movement would? correspondingly increasethevwear on that portion of the"material contacting with thering edge.`V In accordance with my improved methcdthe banding ring is made expansible and-usually arranged in a somewhat expanded position during the brim stretchingoperation to increase the angle'between the direction of the brim stretching Vforces andthe direction'of movement/of any y:fnateriaLthereby 85 acting in conjunctionwith thelcrown blockfto lessenlthe wear caused by contact with the Iring edge.

Anv expansible ybanding ring is'also advantageous as byitsuse the need fora number Vof banding rings for each lsize of crown block is avoided, -the expenditure .of time and labor in replacing the ring then in useV by a diiferent size v forhatsof another size is eliminated, and the K possibility-01" use l'ofvband ringsdistorted by pre- 95 `vious use and the consequent production of hats of inferior quality, is avoided. An' expansible banding ring further permits the blocking of hats having crown dimensions greater than-the maximum banding ring dimension without decreasing the quality ofthe bands formed thereon. VMoreover, theipermissible expansion of the banding ring fory the passage ofthe crown block 'during g, the crown blocking operation'substantiallyeliminates'the stress andwearon the materialhere- 105 `tofore compressed between the fixed banding ring i and crown block,.which stress-frequently results in tearing of the hat Valong the base of the crown. A main obj ect 'of 'my invention' is the provision of aV method 4fof dry blockingY hats which is Vcharac- 110 terized by the uniformity of the results attained, a decrease in the amount of wear onthe hat during the operations, effecting substantially all of the stretching of the brim before the crown blocking operation is performed, and a greater restriction and distribution of the strains occurring during the brim stretching and crown blocking operations to the respective portions of the hat then being treated. Another principal object of my invention is the provision of a hat blocking machine which is adapted to be manually operated to efficiently carry out my improved blocking method and characterized by its capacity for operation on hats of different sizes and shapes with no changes in the operating parts, and by the simplicity of its construction and mode of operation.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, and the advantages possessed by it reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention; l K

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and l Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in `section showing some of the machine parts in one of their operating positions.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the top and 6 the bottom of a substantially square shaped, upright frame 7 supported from the floor I by corner legs or supports 8', said frame being preferably made of metal to formY a rigid support for the operating mechanism.

Adjacent the open top of the frame, there is provided a flanged ring 9 permanently fastened to the inside of the'frame, said ring supporting a frusto-conical chamber or pot 10. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it ywill be noted that the frame also includes a central, horizontal partition 11 preferably integral therewith, which partition supports a central stationary column 12 having a vertical reduced section 13. The column section 13 is arranged to receive a vertically .slidable circumferentially grooved collar 14.

Securedto the upper end of the column 13 is a plate 15 on which rest flat horizontal arms 16, 17 of a pair of movable L-shaped brackets 18, 19 and similar arms 20, 21 of a second pair of brackets 22, 23, which have two substantially semicircular banding ring sections 24, 25 fixed on their upper ends, each ring section being flexible to permit of movements of approach and separation of its two ends. The top portions of the brackets 18, 19 are formed with segment sections 26, 27 to which are fixed guide segments 26a, 27a ontheir inner sides forminggrooves or guides receiving theV free ends of the ring sections 24, 25 for sliding movement therein.

The. ring sections 24, 25 may be expanded and retracted relativeto a hatblock by mechanism hereinafter described.Y Each horizontal arm of the brackets 16, 17, 20, 21 carries a short pin 30 which extends through a corresponding obliquely arranged segmental camv slot 31 in a partly rokininating in a handle.

tatable circular plate 32 mounted on a central stud or pin 33 and arranged to permit inward or outward radial movement of said arms to simultaneously contract or expand the ring sections 24, 25. It will thus be seen that since the segmental slots 31 in the plate 32 are not concentric to the pivot on which the plate is mounted, a clockwise rotation of said plate will cause the brackets to be expanded and a counterclockwise rotation cause the brackets to retract. To accomplish this operation, a rod 34 is fastened at one end 35 to the plate and the opposite end 36 of the rod is connected to one leg of a bell crank lever 37, pivoted at 38, and the other leg of which serves as an operating handle. The curved form of the'cam slots is advantageous in providing a partial locking effect on the banding ring sections when the pins 30 are in their innermost positions.

Again referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the frame partition 11 carries a plurality of posts 39 on which is mounted an annular 'plate 40, which carries a series of fixed horizontal arms 4l, each forming a pivot 42 for a bell crank lever 43 arranged to form the lower jaw member of a brim clamp. The lower leg 44 of each lever is inclined downwardly towards the collar 14 and terminates in a boss 45 which fits within the groove 46 of the collar. The vertical legs 47 of the levers extend upwardly to a point on the same level with Ythe top of the banding ring.

In order to movethe levers 43 above their pivots 42 the collar 14-is equipped with a pair of depending brackets 50, 51 fixed thereto and passlock or catch 59 cooperating with a segmental toothed rack 60 fastened to the side of the Yframe, as shown in Fig. 4.

Cooperating with .the brim clamp levers 43 area series of clamping fingers 61 reciprocably mounted in the levers 43 and having their lower n ends passing through slots 42a in the corresponding arms 41 and pivoted at 62 to a vvertically mov- Y able ring63 located at the outside of a steam pot 64, which is secured to the partition 11 by an angle bar 64a.. The clamping surface 65 of each linger 61 is located above the clamping surface 65a of the corresponding lower jaw member so that when the ring 63 is lowered, the peripheral portion of `a hat brim 66 positioned therebetween will be flrmlyclamped.

The vertically movable ring 63 is` normally held in its` raised position by means of coiled spring members 67 arranged between the partitionll and the ring. .Attached to the bottom of the ring are a pair of angle members 68 having links 69 fastened thereto,the lower end of each link being connected to a corresponding lever 70 on a shaft 70a. The shaft is actuated by connecting one of the levers through a link 71 to a bell crank actuating lever 72 pivoted to the frame at 73 and ter- Stops 69a on the links 69 limit the upward movement of the ring 63 under the action of the springs 67. By this arrangement the fingers 61 may bev actuated inlease vor clamp the hat brim. A circular coil dependently of the lowerjaw'meinbers 43 to respring 74 is provided to aid the return of all of the brim clamp members to their inner position when theoperating lever 5S is released.

To introduce steam for softening the hat material, I provide a steam pipe 75 having branches 76 which pass through the partition l1 into the steam pot 64. The steam is controlled by means of a suitable valve 77, which may be opened and closed by means of a foot lever 78, link 79, and a valve operating lever 80, arranged in a well known manner.

A presser block 81 pivotally carried by'an Aoperating bar 82, pivoted at 83 to a bracket 84 on the machine frame is normally held in a raised position by a tension spring 85 extending between an eye 86 in the bar extension 88 and a frame Vpin 87. The presser head and leve" is adapted to be actuated by the operator to engage the top surface of the crown block 48.

Having described the structural features of my invention, the mode of use of the machine will now be set forth. In the blocking of felt hats for example, a crown block of the desired final size and contour of the hat crown is initially inserted in the crown, extending downwardly therein to a substantial extent. crown block in position is then arranged by the operator with theorown positioned within the banding ring 24 and its brim resting on the upper edge of the ring and between the jaw and finger members of the brim clamps. The machine parts are then in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 except that the banding ring sections are partly expanded. In this position the lower brim surface contacts with the flat upper surfaces 65a of the jaw member 43 and the brim peripheral portions extend below the lower surfaces 65 of the ngers 61. The operating handle 72 is then moved towards the operator to lower the ring 63, and thereby the clamping iingers 61, to firmly clamp the peripheral portions of the brim; The steam valve 77 is then opened to permit steam to discharge upwardly throughthe pot into contact with the exposed undersurfaces of the hat body and brim. The operating lever 58 is then moved towards the operator to raise the collar 14 and thereby move the jaw members 43 and clamping fingers 61 outwardly about their respective pivots 42 and 62, to stretch the hat brim. These parts are then locked in that position.

The brim clamps are sufficiently numerous and so distributed about the periphery of the brim that a uniform stress is exerted on all portions of the brim. The material stretched by this operation is almost wholly conned to the brim proper as the weight and position of the crown block restrict any upward movement of ythe Inaterial in the hat body over the upper edge of. the banding ring. The limited movement of material over the upper edge of the banding ring and the arrangement of that member in its partly expanded position substantially avoids the extensive abrasive action on the material which would otherwise occur.

At or near the end of the brim stretching operation, the lever 37 is rotated to tighten the banding ring sections to a predetermined extent about the hat crown. The contracted banding ring will hold the corresponding portions of the crown against the crown block therein. The presser block is then lowered by the operator intov contact with the crown block 48 and forced downwardly to move the crown blockinto its lowermost position, as illustrated in Fig. 4.1 During this The hat with the movement there will usually be afslightexpansion 'of the band ring as the ibase' portionsfof the vblock are-generally slightly largervinf cross section than theremaining block portions. This expansible featureI of the ring substantially re-i duces the strain on the materialicon'ned between the moving crown'block and banding ring.`y The banding ring is then fully contracted bythe operator to complete'the band forming section.' The foregoing operations can be rapidly performed` jbythe operator in substantially the sequence-del scribed and when accomplished-,the steam supply `is "subsequently out off and the hat withdrawn fromthe machine by expanding the bandingring and raising the clamping fingers 61. The crown block is., left in' position when Vthe hat iswithdrawn, as this arrangement is advantageous-in carrying-out the subsequent finishing operations onthehat.-V I

While in accordance with the provisionsofthe statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment'of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those'skilled'infthe art'that changes may be made -in the apparatus disclosed without departing vfrom the spirit of my invention Vas set forth in the appended claimsand that in some cases certain features of my inven- Ation may be-used to advantage without a corre- Vblock of the desired'iinal crown size and contour inserted therein to a substantialextent in an inverted position in a supporting and band forming ring, clamping'the peripheral portions of the hat brim, subjecting the exposed under surfaces of the hat to the effect of steam in contacttherewith, exerting a uniform stretching force on all portions of the brim while maintainingthe crown portion of the hat in substantially its original position,- tightening the band ring about the hatv crown, forcing the crown block downwardly under a substantial` pressure to define the crown and band with substantially no movement of the material over the upper edge of the banding ring.

2. The method of dry blocking hats which comprises loosely mounting a hat body having a crown block of the desired nal crown size and contour inserted therein to a substantial extent in :h1 inverted positionr in a supporting and band forming ring, clamping the peripheral portions of the hat brim, subjecting the exposed under* surfaces of the hat to the effect of steam in contact therewith, exerting a uniform stretching force on all portions of the brim, tightening the band ring about the hat crown, forcing the crown block downwardly under a substantial pressure to define the crown and band, andsubsequently expanding the banding ring and unclamping the brim to permit the removal of the hat with the crown block in position therein.

3. A hat blocking machine comprising a series 'v 4alec positioned within said brim clamp series andY formed by a pair of substantially semi-circular flexible ring sertions the ends of each of which normally extend into close proximity. with the corresponding ends of` the other, said ring sections being normally arranged to loosely receive `an inverted hat body with `a crownblock ofthe desired nal crown size and contour partly in- Y sei-ted therein-means for relatively moving said ring sections to expand or contract said banding ring, said means comprising actuating members movable toward and away from one another in the direction of movements oi approach andseparation `of the ends of each section relativeto the other as the banding ring is expanded and contracted, and separate guiding means for each adjacent pair of ring section ends movabletrans- Yversely to the rst mentioned direction and positively guidingthe four ends of the two ring sections in the contraction of ,said banding ring,l

a presser block, and means for forcing said presser block downwardly against said crown block to conform the hat crown to said crown block.

4. `A hat blocking machine comprisinga series of brim clamps arrangedin spaced relation Aand formed bycooperating pivoted jaw linger members arranged for a relative'reciprocable movement tovclamp a hat brim, means for relatively reciprocating said members, means for swinging said members outwardly about their pivotal points to stretch said brim, Va banding ring positioned Within said brim Yclamp series and formed by a pair of relatively movable ring'sections, said receive an inverted hat body with acrown block of the desired nal crown size and contour partly inserted therein, means for relatively moving said ringsections to expand or contract said banding ring comprising a pair oi supporting brackets iixed thereto, a second pair of brackets slideably connected thereto and means for radially moving .said brackets, a presser block, andmeans for forcing said presser block downwardly against saidcrown block to conform the hat crown tc ,l said crown block.

5.y A hat blocking machine comprising a series of brim clamps arranged in spaced relation and formed by cooperating pivoted jaw and finger members arrangedv for a relative reoiprocable movement to clamp a hat brim, means for relatively reciprocating Vsaid members, means for swinging said members outwardly about their pivotal points to stretch said brim, a banding ring positioned within said brim clamp series and formed byapair of relatively moveable ring sections, said ring sections being normally arranged to loosely receive an inverted hat body with a'- crown blockof` the desired iinal crown size and contour partly inserted therein, and means for relatively moving said ring sections to expand or contract said banding ring comprising a pair of L-shaped supporting brackets fixed thereto, 1a-

ving ring formed by a pair of relatively movable ring sections, said ring sections being arranged to receive aninverted hat body with a` crown block of the desired final crown size and contour 'partly inserted therein, and means for relatively moving said ring sections to expand or contract said banding ring comprisinga pair of L-shaped supporting brackets fixed thereto, a second pair of L-shaped brackets slideably connected thereto, a rotatble plate having a plurality of ,cam slots formed therein, pins on said brackets engaging in said slots, and means for rotating said plate to cam said brackets outwardly or'inwardly.

'1. A hat blocking machine comprising a banding ring forl Led by a pair of relatively movable ring sections, said ring sections being arranged to receive an inverted hat body with a crown block of the desired nal crown size and contour partly inserted therein, and means for relatively moving said ring sections to expand or contract said banding ring comprising a pair of L-shaped supporting brackets xed thereto, a second pair of L-shaped brackets having grooves formed in their upper ends for slideably receiving the free ends of said ring sections, a rotatable plate having a plurality of curved cam slots formed therein, pins on the horizontal arms of said brackets engaging in said slots, and means for rotating said plate to camv said brackets outwardly and inwardly.

RUDOLPH G. SEGSCHNEIDER. 

